Everybody thinks rats are "gross" and "ugly", it's really sad, but they are really adorable and nice...
2007-07-17 03:05:41 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Rodents
yes, they are pretty smart. don't worry about it, have they never been to petco? people have pet rats and mice all the time. it's not weird.
2007-07-17 03:13:25 · answer #1 · answered by Kay 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
First stop worrying what other people think. Does it really matter if they think you are weird? You keep doing the things you enjoy that make you happy. That is more important than making others happy and being miserable.
I do know it is hard to take name calling and teasing. Do what I have done for a lot of years, tell everyone it is an "African short haired hamster". You will need to make up a story about the difference between your "pet" and a rat so give it some thought and make it good. Or make up some equally ridiculous name and amuse yourself at others ignorance. Only let one good friend in on the joke so they can help verify your story. If too many people know what you are doing, the joke will be over because they all can't keep their mouth shut. Learn to have a little harmless fun at others expense.
2007-07-17 10:29:06 · answer #2 · answered by bmcbrewer 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have had rats for many years, including when i was in school. People thought I was wierd all the time. But I refused to let that keep me from having the pets I loved. When I brought my dumbo eared rat out in public, people thought she was the cutest thing in the world. They started warming up to the idea after that. I think it's because of people's perceptions of rats-they've probably never met a pet rat up close. You can join a rat forum for more advise- try goosemoose.com that's where I am :)
2007-07-17 11:32:17 · answer #3 · answered by K 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You know, I am going through the same thing. I don't actually have a rat yet, but I have told friends and family that I am getting one. They tell everyone that we are around that "Oh, and Loni's getting a rat soon.".
I have decided that I will just not take it personally. People decide to make you some kind of freak show because you are getting a nasty dirty sewer rodent. They just want something to talk about. That is how dry their own lives are.
I hope that they get over the fact that you have rat soon. Just know that you are always excepted by rat luvers everywhere!!!!
2007-07-17 10:29:49 · answer #4 · answered by Books books books! 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Who cares what your friends think. Are they the type girls who won't associate with you because you own a rat?? Is so, they arent worth your time!! My daughter 14, has had 3 rats over the last 4 years, and now she has a white mouse that is adorable ! Her Best friend has guinea pigs, and she ( her friend ) is a popular girl at school. What pets you have shouldnt matter to your friends, and you tell them I said so : ) They don't have to hold them if they don't want to.. as long as you arent chasing them around the house with your rat and scaring them... who cares. Rats are a good choice even over the pet mouse. The rat is more freindly, comes to the cage door to greet us, and always eager to get out to play, very social.. Your friends just don't have the soft spot in their hearts as you do.
2007-07-17 14:54:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try not to take it to heart, people are ignorant or pet rats and how great they really are. They see them as filthy pleage carriers. But in reality they are one of the cleanest animals.
All you can really do is try to tell them the differences in a pet rat and a wild rat, and how they really are amazing animals. If they don't understand or don't listen then it's their loss...
I have talked to a countless number of people about rats, some will listen and some will not. I have convinces many of my friends to hold and play with my rats and a few have even gotten their own. (I even got a friends mother to see one of my rats because we thought she should paint her living room the color of her coat...lol...she was deathly afriad untill she saw how beautiful she is!!)
With most people, it's just because they don't know...
I hope this helps...GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR RATS!!!!
2007-07-17 10:37:03 · answer #6 · answered by KaylaByrd 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
In the end it is what you want, and what you think of yourself. What others think doesn't matter. I got a pet rat a couple months ago.... and in the end as of today, I have 14. People think that its strange or whatnot, but I think they are adorable. Bollocks to what others think. Besides, take the tails away (in your mind) and they are as adorable as anything else!
2007-07-17 15:22:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry about what they think. Rats are truly awesome little companions & if they don't realize this it's their loss.
I don't know how anyone could call a pair of ruby or onyx eyes, ears like rose petals, a sweetly wriggly nose & a delicate set of whiskers "ugly."
2007-07-17 12:00:13 · answer #8 · answered by Catkin 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Take your pet with you. My Icarus if great for making people change their opinions of rats. Once they start to kiss and cuddle up to someone who isn't a big fan they either freak out or start to pet them and then they are hooked. At least that's my experience.
2007-07-17 15:25:20 · answer #9 · answered by MommyCaleb 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
anyone who has anything negative opinions with that attitude about fancy rats shouldn't say anything about them at all. they just prove to be frightened uneducated dimwits who's thoughts on them shouldn't count.
i kept pet rats for years from my teens into my early 20s
unlike the gerbil or hamster, rats don't bite, are not hard to handle, are painfully clean, are happy to settle into you for a fuss, adore being handled rather than just run from hand to hand like a flaming idiot, can be name and toilet trained and they are not nocturnal
fancy rats are incredible you go for it girl you will be pleasantly surprised i promise.
xxx
2007-07-17 10:29:15 · answer #10 · answered by sasha 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
dont worry about them they are just idoits that wish they had the love of a rat, and they are jealus because they no theyre pet doenst love em like your does.
i has 2 male rats and i love them to death, others think they are gross my close friends dont mind
they like my little hairless one
and my other one
so dont let them bother you and if they do tell them to go to hell
2007-07-17 13:51:48 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋